The effects of plasticizers on the properties of poly(vinyl chloride) foams

• Published in: Journal of vinyl & additive technology Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 159 - 165
• Main Authors: Veličković, Sava J., Stojkov, Dejan, Popović, Ivanka G., Brankov, Klara, Čvorkov, Ljubomir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-06-2002; Wiley; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cellular; Compounding ingredients; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Plasticizers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Plastisol; Diester; Foam(plastics); Elasticity; Polyvinyl chloride; Experimental study; Expansion; PVC plasticizer; Cell density
• ISSN: 1083-5601; 1548-0585
• DOI: 10.1002/vnl.10356

Abstract
The effects of plasticizers on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastisol mixtures were investigated. The investigations were carried out by determining the density of the PVC foam obtained by gelling the plastisol, as well as its elasticity and degree of expansion. Two series of experiments using different types of PVC were performed, using eight plasticizers, individually or as mixtures. Two‐component plasticizer mixtures showed better properties than single‐component plasticizers, and mixtures of di‐iso‐heptyl phthalate (DiHP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) proved to be the most appropriate. The effect of plasticizer amount also was investigated, and of the three parameters studied, the foam density, which steadily increased with plasticizer amount, was the critical one. It was also shown that in order to obtain consistent results, the foam expansion had to be precisely timed and the temperature carefully chosen.